Draft-geak



J. F. COURSON.

DRAFT GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV, 27, 1918.

Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

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J. F. COURSON.

DRAFT GEAR.

APPLICATION mu) NOV. 21, 191B.

Patented Feb. 15,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. COURSON, OF PITCAIRN, PENNSYLVANIA.

DRAFT-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

Application filed November 27, 1918. Serial No. 284,836.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. CoURsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pitcairn. in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft- (fears, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improvement in draft gears of the class utilizing friction members and expanding mechanism there for operable on buffing or pulling to effect resistance to such strains through such parts inclosed within an embracing cylinder or casing.

The particular objects in view are to provide, in a gear of this type, means for distending the friction mechanism toward the casing and for utilizing interengaging friction-creating sliding members to produce a resulting frictional resistance proportioned to the strain, utilizing such movable friction creating elements between a central expanding wedge and the casing, whereby to effect expansion, with free retraction of the friction mechanism, coincidental with pressure and release movements, either in buffing or pulling.

The several desired objects are accomplished in certain preferred forms of the apparatus as more fully hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through a complete gear as assembled, the parts being shown in normal extended position, taken on line I-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line III--III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the central expanding wedge;

Fig. 5 is a similar View of the co-acting differential angle wedge bar;

Fig. 6 is a similar view of one of the relatively fixed friction or casing plates:

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the gear compressed;

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of one of the sliding friction plates;

Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view showing a modified construction of the gear;

nism and pressure springs utilizing buffing or pulling strains to exert frictional resistance upon lateral expansion of the plates resultin from the wedge mechanism. In my prior Iatents #1,180,979 and #1,1s0,9s0 of April 25, 1916, I show expanding mechanism utilizing a central blunt angle, wedge, slidable friction shoes adapted to exert frictional engagement against the inner faces of an inclosing casing, differential angle wedge blocks intervening between the central wedge and such friction shoes for the creation of great expanding pressure with resulting free release and initial absorbing and reacting spring mechanism. In the first of these last two patents I show a central wedge having one pair of blunt angle faces and in the second the central wedge is provided with front and rear pairs of such faces, also corresponding single and double faced differential angle wedge blocks, as in the present construction.

In my present invention I have utilized certain features of each of these prior putents and have so combined the several operative parts of the present gear as to utilize the high expandmg power of combined blunt and acute angle wedge mechanism in connection with assembled relatively fixed and slidable plates, within an inclosing casing, and with an initial compression spring, whereby to effect the desired high pressure and resulting friction, together with free release, in an amplified degree.

Generally stated, the improvementherein involved consists in providing between the differential angle expanding wedges and the sliding friction plates, an operative connection whereby to positively transmit movement to and from these parts with relation to the relatively stationary friction members which are mounted within the inclosing casing. a

In the drawings, 2 represents the drawbar of a coupling connected with the front end portions of a strap or yoke 8 by transverse bolts or rivets 1 extending therewithin the front portion of casing 7 against longitudinal movement with relation to the casing, but are free to move outwardly or inwardly in the manner of floating friction plates, similar to the plates 2 of Patent #732,521 above referred to. Plates 9 and 10, mounted in this manner, maybe referred to as casing plates. If desired, however, the side edges of plates 9 and 10 may be made appreciably shorter, more or less, than the length of the receiving space a, thereby providing for an initial movement of the plates without material frictional resistance, for the purpose of getting a spring resistance only at the commencement of bufiing or pulling movements.

A central expanding wedge 12 is located centrally of the draft gear with its front end abutting against follower plate 13 which intervenes between the wedge and the rear end of the draw-bar, and normally bears forwardly against stops 1 1 of the underframe in pulling, and is thrust backwardly there from with the wedge 12 in buffing. Wedge 12 is provided at opposite sides with blunt angle wedge faces 15, one or more pairs of such opposite wedge faces engaging corre sponding blunt angle wedge faces 16 of the differential angle wedge blocks 17.

' In referring to wedge faces 1516 as blunt angle, I mean wedge faces of such degree of taper with relation to the longitudinal center of the draft gear as will freely release without binding or sticking upon termination of buffingor pulling strains, and which will, within their expanding limitations,'have a certain degree of separating action on the-co-acting differential angle wedge blocks 17. In practice I have found wedge faces of about 425 to the horizontal to give good results.

7 The outer faces of the differential angle wedge block 17 are disposed at a more acute or sharp angle with relation to the longitudinal center of the draft gear, providing great expansive or spreading action when the said wedge blocks are spread apart by the'central wedge 12 .and'are also advanced inwardly of the gear by further movement in buffing, or are maintained against forward movement of the casing and its attached parts by the blunt angle faces, in pulling. I

F or the purpose of providing the desired resulting friction between the expanding wedge mechanism as thus arranged and the retaining casing 5, I provide, between the relativelyfixed plates 9 and 10 at each side, a movable or slidable friction plate 18 adapted to be thrust inwardly between plates 9 and 10 in buffing, or to be maintained in frictional resisting position between them when said plates are moved forwardly with the casing, in pulling.

For the purpose of fixedly connecting plates 18 with the'diiferential angle wedge blocks 17, and whereby plate 18 is maintained in floating relation to its adjacent plates, 2'. e., free to move outwardly or inwardly, differential angle wedge blocks 17 are each provided with outwardly extending.

lugs 19 extending through elongated clearance slots 23 of plates 10 and engaging corresponding receiving sockets 20 of plates 18,

with sufficient clearance to provide foreasy outward or inward movement of said parts, while maintaining their fixed relationship as to longitudinal movement.

By this means, when the differential angle wedge blocks 17 are thrust inwardly the friction plates 18 will be-carried in with them, and in pulling the differential angle wedge blocks and connected plates 18 will, in the same manner, be maintained against relative forward sliding movement of plates 9 and 10. It will be observed that plates 9 and 10 are slightly tapered toward the front with opposed parallel faces between which the sliding friction plate 18 of uniform thickness may be moved, and whereby to present to the acute angle faces of blocks 17 corresponding tapered faces to utilize the great tightening action of the outer acute angle faces of said blocks 17.

Eearwardly beyond such assembled wedging and friction creating mechanism isv a transverse follower plate 21 against which the inner ends of plates 18 engage, and between the inner face of follower 21 and the rear end of casing 5 is interposed the spring 22 of usual construction and compressive resistance commonly used in this general class of draft gears.

The casing 5 normally abuts by its rear end against rear stops 24, 24, fixedly secured in the under-frame with intervening clearance for the rear end of the yoke strap 3, and the gear is supported between the center sills by the usual carrier plate 25 secured thereto. W

The construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood and appreciated from the foregoing description by messesthose skilled in the art. It amplifies the friction creating surfaces b combining a plurality of relatively fixe and movable friction plates with the outer differential angle expanding wedge blocks. By interposing such a plurality of friction elements between the wedge mechanism and the casing, and by positively connecting or abutting the movable friction plates with the wedge blocks, I insure a greatly increased area of positively actuated friction-creating faces while retaining all of the advantages of great expanding power and prompt certain release by use of the acute angle and blunt angle wedges in the construction.

In the modified construction of Fig. 9, the central blunt angle wedge block 12 as to its blunt angles, and the differential angle wedge blocks 17 as to their inner blunt angles 16 and outer acute angles, are generally the same as above described. Instead of providing the differential angle wedge blocks with the lugs 19, involving the clearance openings 23 of relatively stationary friction plates 10, said plates 10 are solid throughout and are maintained in position within the casing by their lateral shouldered edge portions in the same manner as illustrated in Fig. 2, and the outer relatively fixed friction plates 9 are likewise arranged in the same manner.

The intervening relatively movable friction plates 18 are, however, positively engaged by terminal outwardly extending lips or abutments 19 of differential angle wedge blocks 17", thus positively engaging plates 18 on inward movement in buffing and resisting them in pulling, and plates 18 are furthermore arranged in positive abutting engagement with the inner ends of the differential angle wedge blocks 17 by means of inwardly extending terminal flanges 18". By this construction, the same floating arrangement is provided for, admittin of free outward or inward movement 0 the positively actuated friction plates 18' and with the same desired action as to longitudinal movement, under compressive frictional resistance between plates 9 and 10.

The inner ends 18 of plates 18 also provide a good bearing for the outer face of follower plate 21 and for action of spring 22* within the rear portion of the casing.

The construction in other respects and the operation and function are generally the same as that of the main construction above described, and avoid the necessity of interengaging lug and slot connections without sacrifice of any of the desirable features of the gear.

If it is desired to provide a plurality of slidable friction plates, they may be arranged. as in Fig. 12. between adjacent casing plates 10, 9,9,etc.,by locking such additional slidable plates 18 outwardly beyond plate 18". In such case plate 18 may have a front lug or flange 18 and a rear lug or flange l8 between which such additional plate or plates may be positively engaged by their ends for movement in either direction with plate in the manner above described. The other parts of the gear in construction and operation are the same as previously described and are indicated by slmilar numerals having the exponent c.

The invention may be changed or varied in detail construction. arrangement, number of parts or otherwise, by the skilled mechanic to adapt it to varying conditions of use as to load, strains, etc., but all such changes are to be considered as within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A friction draft gear having a casing, friction plates therein, a central angle faced pressure bar, a slidable friction plate engaging the friction plates, and a differential angle wedge block between the central pressure bar and the friction plates in operative connection with the middle body portion of the slidable friction plate.

2. A friction draft gear having a casing, friction plates therein, a central angle faced pressure bar, a slidable friction plate engaging the friction plates at each side of the central pressure bar, and a differential angle wedge block at each side of the central pressure bar and between it and the friction plates in operative connection with the middle body portion of the slidable friction plates.

3. A friction draft gear having a casing, friction plates loosely mounted in the casing adjacent opposite sides thereof, a central angle faced pressure bar, slidable friction plates engaging the casing, friction plates at each side of the central pressure bar, and differential angle wedge blocks engaging the central pressure bar at each side in operative relation to the casing plates and having longitudinal abutting connection with the middle body portion of the slidable friction plates.

4. In a draft gear, the combination of a casing, sets of casing plates at each side of the longitudinal center loosely mounted therein for lateral movement and having lug engagement with the casing to prevent relative longitudinal movement, relatively slidable friction plates engaging between the casing plates, a central blunt an le wedge block, and a co-acting wedge bloc at each side thereof having inner blunt angle faces engaging the faces of the blunt angle wedge block and outer acute angle faces engaging the faces of the innermost casing plates and in longitudinally central abutting engagement with the slidable friction plates above and below the horizontal center of the gear.

5. In combination, a casing, casing plates loosely mounted therein for lateral movement and restrained from relative longitudinal-moveinent, relatively slidable friction plates engaging between the casing plates, a central wedge block, a co-acting wedge block at'each side thereof having operative connection with'the middle body portion of the slidable friction plates, a follower plate engaging the inner ends of the slidable friction plates, and a spring between the follower plate and the inner end of the casing.

6. In combination, a casing having laterally arranged retaining abutments, casing plates having side portions engaging said abutments, co-actin slidable friction plates, a central expanding wedge, and wedge blocks at each side of the central wedge hav ing a portion engaging the middle body per-- tion of one of the slidable friction plates.

7. In combination, a casing having laterally arranged retaining abutments, a pair of tapered casing plates at each side'of the easing engaging said abutments, a co-acting slidable friction plate between said plates ing wedge, and wedge blocks at each side of the central wedge each having a lug extending through the innermost casing plate and engaging the slidable friction plate.

8. In combination, a casing having laterally arranged retalnmg abutments, a pair of tapered caslng plates at each side of the easing engaging said abutments, a co-acting slidable friction plate between said plates at each side of the casing, a central expanding wedge having oppositely arranged blunt angle faces, and wedge blocks at each side of 1 JOHN F. COURSON.

25 at each side of the casing, a central expand- V 

